The Bible often talks about God the Father (Matthew 6:9, John 6:24, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Galatians 1:1) but is there a “God the Mother” as well?
There is only one God
The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 4:39, 6:4, Isaiah 45:5), so we know that there can not be two gods, a Father and a Mother. But does the Bible say that God is Mother as well as Father?
What does the Bible say?
The Bible never instructs us to address God as Mother, but only Father. Therefore, it would be beyond Scripture to address God as Mother. However, there are a number of passages that talk about God as having characteristics that are typical of mothers. Jesus Himself compares His relationship with the Jews in Jerusalem with that of a mother hen and her chicks: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” (Matthew 23:37; see also Luke 13:34).
The Bible also talks about God as the one who gives birth to us: “You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.” (Deuteronomy 32:18)
A child with its mother
Our relationship with God is also sometimes compared with that of a child with its mother: “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:2)
This is just a partial list of the places where the Bible speaks of God in maternal terms, but there are many others. The best characteristics of mothers – such as nurturing, caring, protecting, loving, and guiding – are all characteristics of God. In fact, since God is the creator of all things, including mothers, those characteristics which are most often associated with mothers have their origin in God.
Summary
In summary, it would be unwise to speak of God the Mother because the Bible doesn’t speak of God the Mother, but only God the Father. But all the wonderful characteristics of mothers are true of God and come from God, and for that we should praise Him.